My boys had a "End of the World" party here on Friday night, with a HUGE bonfire up on our riding ring. They are all young adults, so of course there was a keg involved, and there were LOTS of young people here. We always let the boys' friends stay over after a party... many live pretty far away, and we don't want anyone driving after drinking. So we ended up with about 12 extras, spread through the boy's rooms, in the basement on extra beds, on the couches and in sleeping bags on the family room floor.

Some of the kids stayed all day yesterday, went to a family party with us last night and stayed last night too. In the midst of all this, Kodi got "kicked out" of his usual sleeping spot during the day, which is his crate in my office. (there is a sleep sofa in there that was in use too, and you know young adults... they sleep in late!)

So I had put Kodi's crate in the dining room, right next to the fireplace so he still had access to it. This seemed to be fine with him yesterday, but this morning, he was standing outside the (open) crate barking mournfully, as if he wanted something. I looked around, didn't see anything, and told him to go in his crate and settle down, which he did... for a while. Then he started barking again, no INSIDE the (still open) crate. I thought he was going crazy. I checked things out again, and told him he didn't need to stay in the crate.

Out he came, and started complaining again. I went back AGAIN, and this time, I actually MOVED the crate. His favorite moose antler was stuck between the crate and the hearth! He started wiggling all over, grabbed his antler, and as soon as I put the crate down, climbed back in. He has been in there, happy as a clam, ever since.

I guess, when he tells me he has a problem, I need to investigate FULLY!

They are so smart and know what they want even if we don't. I remember Bailey doing that lots of times. He was telling me that his ball or a toy was under the couch, hutch or someplace where he couldn't get it. After a while, I finally got the message and all was good. From then on when he was baking near a piece of furniture, I knew what he wanted.

__________________Dave and Molly
Ian Dunbar was awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award from I.P.D.T.A. Here's a picture of me accepting the award on his behalf.
Member of IAABC ,International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants , Member of Pet Professional Guild

The older they get, the better they communicate! By the time Twinkle was 5 or 6, she was doing multiple step "charades" to tell us something.

Yesterday morning, without question, Frolic was telling me she wanted a sweater on BEFORE she went outside. I held down two for her to select from. She picked the hand knitted wool one, and was very proud of wearing it all morning. She had recently gotten a really short puppy cut, and wasn't about to go out in the cold without cover.

Wow, these guys are great communicators! I love both Karen and Toms stories.

Fred really communicates vocally. Scuds is more a stare you down kind of dude. Bella will just hang around me when she wants something. Normally she is independent. So when he is at my feet, I know something is up!

If there was a My Havanese is smarter than a Border Collie bumper sticker I'd have it on my car. My last dog WAS a Border Collie! Atticus has shown me so much brain power so many times and I am, still astounded!